More study requested on Fort Smith take-home vehicle policy

More than 35 Fort Smith police officers and supporters gathered at a noon study session of the Fort Smith Board of Directors as the board was scheduled to review the city’s take-home vehicle policy.

It was all anti-climactic. The board eventually decided to push the review to the first study session in January (Jan. 12).

In August 2008 the city board voted to greatly restrict the policy allowing city employees to use city vehicles to drive between home and work. The policy most directly hit the Fort Smith Police Department.

The change was made primarily after the use of city vehicles was scrutinized following the high gas prices of 2008. A review found 93 city vehicles were used by employees to commute between home and work, costing the city at least $77,500 in fuel costs — then based on $3.50 per gallon.

“Other costs include increased maintenance, shorter vehicle life, and a larger fleet since the take-home vehicles aren’t available for use on employees’ days off,” noted Fort Smith Deputy City Administrator Ray Gosack in a Dec. 4 memo to City Administrator Dennis Kelly.

But during the 2010 budget cycle, Fort Smith Police Chief Kevin Lindsey asked to amend or rescind the take-home policy that parked 56 of the department’s 57 take-home cars. Lindsey said in a memo that losing the take-home car privilege has had “a significant negative impact on morale,” creates a parking problem at police headquarters and can make it difficult for certain officers to respond timely to emergencies. Lindsey requested a modification that would allow officers within 25 miles to regain the take-home privilege, and those outside the radius would pay a nominal fee. Lindsey’s proposal would place 52 cars in the take-home fleet.

Gosack’s Dec. 18 memo outlining potential costs of a policy revision suggests that a uniform take-home vehicle policy across all city departments would allow for 116 vehicles to be used by employees to commute between work and home and would potentially require an extra $60,984 in annual fuel costs. However, Gosack said, not all city departments would use take-home vehicles.

The city staff recommended no change to the policy adopted in August 2008.

“The staff recommends no changes to the policy adopted last year,” noted a Dec. 4 memo. “Most department heads believe the current policy is working well, is being applied consistently, and has had little or no negative effect on service levels to the public.”

Tuesday’s discussion found the board in the middle between the city staff recommendation and Lindsey’s proposal. City Director Bill Maddox said a take-home vehicle should be a necessity, not merely a privilege. Director Don Hutchings agreed.

“So how do we whittle that down (116 vehicles)? Because I find myself in the precarious position of agreeing with Director Maddox,” Hutchings said.

Director Gary Campbell said the “speed of response” separates the police department from other city departments, but also agreed with the idea of possibly narrowing Lindsey’s proposal. City Director Cole Goodman questioned the 25-mile radius in Lindsey’s proposal, noting that “if we’re truly talking speed of response” then a 25-mile distance is too far.

City Administrator Kelly said he would work with Lindsey on an alternative proposal for discussion at the Jan. 12 board study session.